Cradle for handling cylindrical objects



Sept. 25, 1962 Filed July 11, 1958 o. c. HUFF ETAL 3,055,695

CRADLE FOR HANDLING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS 2 Sheets-Sheet l W I l 27 4|" Sept. 25, 1962 o. c. HUFF ETAL 3,055,695

CRADLE FOR HANDLING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS Filed July 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nited States Patent Ofifice 3,055,595 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 3,055,695 CRADLE FOR HANDLING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS O. C. Huff and Norman C. Stanley, Port Arthur, Tex., assignors to Texaco Inc, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 11, 1958, Ser. No. 747,921 2 Claims. (Cl. 294-67) The present invention relates to a novel cradle for handling large heavy cylindrical objects, such as heat exchanger tube bundles used in chemical plants. Such tube bundles often are very large, ranging in length up to 24 feet and in diameter up to 8 feet, and may weigh several tons.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a novel cradle comprising a horizontal longitudinal beam, two pairs of legs pivotally mounted on and dependent from opposite ends of the beam, and a pair of longitudinal struts extending parallel to the beam between corresponding legs adjacent their lower ends. The apparatus also has two transverse horizontal braces tying together the two legs of each pair in a fixed relationship, in the form of an A. When this cradle is dropped over a tube bundle by a crane the legs are tied together with the longitudinal struts below and closer together than the horizontal diameter of the bundle. The crane then lifts the cradle, the struts engage the bundle below its horizontal diameter, and the tube bundle is carried away.

The novel cradle is described more in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein;

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of a cradle embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the cradle as viewed from the right in FIG. 1, parts being broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view corresponding to FIG. 1, but showing the cradle in position for lifting a tube bundle;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a tube bundle in the process of being lifted by a crane; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale as viewed from the right in FIG. 5.

The cradle comprises a horizontal beam 11, such as an I-beam, having longitudinally spaced ears 13, 15 and 17 for attachment to the cables of a crane. Referring to FIG. 1, and to the left end of FIG. 3, a clevis 19 is welded or otherwise secured to the end of beam 11 for supporting a pair of downwardly extending legs 21 and 23 having their upper ends located within the space between the two side plates 25 and 27 of the clevis, and pivotally secured thereto for movement in an upright vertical plane toward and away from one another by horizontal bolts 29 and 31 extending through corresponding bores in the sides and in the legs.

At their lower ends the legs 21 and 23 carry rollers or wheels 33 and 35 which are mounted on shafts 37 and 39 for rotation therewith so that when the wheels 33 and 35 are resting on the ground the relation of the legs 21 and 23 to one another can be changed by raising or lowering the beam 11 with a crane while the wheels roll along the ground toward or away from one another. Shafts 37 and 39 extend lengthwise through apertures in the corresponding legs of the two pairs.

For securing the legs 21 and 23 in a fixed position a horizontal transverse brace 41 is mounted within a pair of sleeves 4-3 and 45 on the legs 21 and 23, respectively. The brace 41 has a plurality of vertical bores 47 therethrough spaced apart lengthwise, and the sleeves 43 and 45 have corresponding bores containing pins 49 and 51 so that when the pins are passed through mating bores in the sleeve and in the brace, the legs are then fixed in position. When a change in position is desired, one or both of the pins are withdrawn, the legs 21 and 23 are moved as desired, and then the pins are reinserted. To prevent binding of the brace 41 within the sleeves 43 and 45, the latter are secured to the legs by bolts 53 and 55 which permit pivoting movement of the sleeves in an upright plane as the legs 21 and 23 are moved and the brace slides Within the sleeves.

To prevent the legs 21 and 23 from spreading too far apart when the cradle is positioned on the ground with the brace 41 unsecured there are provided stops 57 and 59 in the form of U-shaped yokes which are welded to the sides of the clevis 19 and extend in opposite directions laterally therefrom.

The construction and arrangement of the pair of legs at the opposite end of the beam 11 is identical in every respect. One of these legs 61 is shown at the right side of FIG. 3 mounted in a clevis 63 and carrying a pivoted sleeve 65 within which is secured a brace 67 like the brace 41. On its lower end the leg 61 carries a wheel 69 which is mounted on the end of shaft 39 opposite wheel 33.

For gripping a cylindrical object such as a tube bundle the shaft 39 carries a strut such as a roller or pipe 71 which is rotatable with the shaft and extends for most of the distance between the legs 23 and 61. A similar strut 73 is mounted on shaft 37 which extends longitudinally between the other leg 21 and the corresponding leg (not shown) at the opposite end of beam 11.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 demonstrate how the cradle is used for moving a cylindrical object such as a heat exchanger tube bundle. For the device to function properly, the legs at the opposite ends of beam 11 should be spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the tube bundle to be moved. One or both of the pins 49 and 51 and the corresponding ones at the opposite end of the cradle are removed. Assuming that a bundle 77 is resting in blocks 79 on the ground, a crane lifts the cradle above the top of the tube bundle and then lowers it down over the bundle until the struts 71 and 73 abut against the periphery of the tube sheets 81}, 81, 83 and 85. Upon continued lowering of the cradle the struts 71 and 73 roll down along the periphery of the tube sheets and the legs gradually spread apart while the braces 41 and 67 slide within their retaining sleeves until the horizontal diameter of the bundle is reached. Upon continued lowering, the weight of the legs is such that they start to close together, and when the lower ends of the legs reach a desired position below this horizontal diameter the pins are inserted to hold the braces 41 and 67 in an adjusted position and retain the legs in a fixed position relative to one another.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the crane 87 then lifts the cradle and the tube bundle 77. When the bundle is to be released, it is deposited on a suitable support, one or both of the retaining pins of each leg structure are removed, and the crane lifts the cradle while the struts 71 and 73 roll upwardly on the periphery of the tube bundle and the legs expand and contract below and above the horizontal diameter.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention, as hereinbefore set forth, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a cradle for handling cylindrical objects such as heat exchanger tube bundles comprising, in combination,

a horizontal beam;

a first pair of legs pivotally mounted on said beam adjacent one end thereof for movement toward and away from one another in an upright plane;

a second pair of legs pivotally mounted on said beam adjacent the opposite end thereof for movement toward and away from one another in an upright plane;

a pair of transversely spaced struts extending parallel to said beam and connecting together the lower ends of corresponding legs of said pairs;

and means connecting together the legs of each pair at points spaced below said beam for holding the legs of each of said pairs in a fixed position relative to one another; the improvements which comprise:

(a) each of said struts being permanently connected at the ends thereof to said legs whereby said cradle can only be positioned by lowering it down over a cylindrical object; and 1 (b) said last named means comprising a pair of braces extending horizontally between the legs of each of said first and second pairs of legs, each brace being pivotally secured at one end thereof to a first leg of said pair for movement in an upright plane,

sleeves pivotally secured to the second leg of each pair for movement in an upright plane, said braces fitting within said sleeves and being movable therein for 4 a substantial distance during movement of said legs toward and away from one another, and means for securing said braces in position within said sleeves. 2. In a cradle in accordance with claim 1, the further improvement which comprises roller means carried by each of said legs for contact with the ground during movement of said cradle along the ground.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,829 tone Apr. 11, 1916 1,301,728 Milne Apr. 22, 1919 1,536,643 Williams May 5, 1925 1,683,463 Healy Sept. 4, 1928 1,807,266 Wazlavek May 26, 1931 1,990,670 Shaughnessy Feb. 12, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,101,948 France Apr. 27, 1955 385,614 Germany Dec. 11, 1923 620,025 Germany Oct. 11, 1935 

